PNBHS 1989 – 1994 – Gordon Club

Mathew played a variety of sports at school but it was cricket where he excelled. If there were people prepared to bowl to him, he would bat anywhere any time. He received the Page Trophy for the Best Third Form Cricketer and a number of other awards for the 1st XI cricket including the Retemeyer Brothers Trophy for his magnificent 122 versus Auckland Grammar. Skippy had a great relationship with Phil Gosling who taught him and coached him cricket and rugby. 1st XI coach Alec Astle predicted he had the ability and mental attributes to reach the highest level of the game. He was PNBHS 1st XI Cap number 606. Mathew was vice-captain of the 1st XI, vice-captain of Gordon Club and a School Prefect.

His debut for the Black Caps against the West Indies on Boxing Day 1999 was a memorable one where he scored 214. He still holds the equal world record for the highest test score for a number three batsman on debut and holds the NZ record for the highest score on debut. The next season he followed this with another double hundred; 204 not out against Pakistan. He played 33 tests (Cap number 208), 54 One Day Internationals (Cap number 113) and two T20s (Cap number 8) accumulating nearly 3,000 international runs.

Mathew had 18 seasons with Central Districts.

• Tied fourth on the list of most 1st class appearances for a NZ Association (119). Skippy has broken a number of records over the course of his career.
• Leading run scorer in all formats for CD, scoring over 15,000 runs
• Most 1st class runs for one association with 9148 runs. This is more than         2,500 runs in front of the next best.
• A record 27 1st class centuries for CD. He took 350 catches, 3 stumpings as well as 24 1st class wickets.
• Four times he was the leading run scorer in NZ first class cricket and during his career helped CD win eight trophies.